Observing Ramadan in uniform

There are around 1,000 Muslims among Germany's 250,000 soldiers. During Ramadan, they have the extra pressure of finding a compromise between their job and their daily religious fast.

Chaouki Aakil is a sergeant in a logistics battalion. He also carries the responsibility for the soldiers during transport operations. A loss of concentration in a risky situation would be unforgivable, the 30-year-old says.

But that is a real threat during Ramadan, which this year began on July 9, and which requires practicing Muslims to fast between sunrise and sunset. If Ramadan comes during the summer - as it does this year - doing without food and water can be a real problem.